Just back from the match and yes gutted for Mayo. As I have said I had a foot in both camps so I was on a winner anyway. But you just have to feel for the men and people from the green and red County. The County loves its football and will have its day, mark my words. Mayo will be picking up Sam next year if not the year after. Donegal were deserved Champions and with out doubt were the best team in the Country. I was buzzing for them and I am sure it will be party time in Donegal for sometime….. A fantastic win for Jimmy, Michael Murphy and the whole squad. They entertained all year with some fantastic fast flowing football which was a joy to watch.

Yes the final wasn't the best game ever, once Donegal got that lead it was over. Mayo battled on bravely but never really had a chance after the 2 goals. You sensed that when Mayo got within striking distance Donegal went up a gear or 2 and stretched their lead to just keep them out of range.

All I can say to the Mayo people is Mayo will be back next year; they have a young team with lots of talent and a young manger who seems to be on a mission. For all in Mayo keep the faith and to quote that Saw Doctors song; "To Win just Once" It will come…..

On a personal note, it was the weirdest feeling watching 2 teams and I'm thinking that's a great score and O no not another goal. It's so much easier being a United fan…

Well done Donegal Sam 2012, 2013 will be Mayo's year!!!!!

Mancirish (UK) - Posts: 2200 - 24/09/2012 12:13:53    1271583

Donegal has a lot more in common with the republics counties than any within the "6", you're getting desperate Ulsterman! Pity the border wasn't made of elastic, you could stretch it over to the west a bit!!!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8812 - 24/09/2012 14:35:50    1271748

This is Donegal's all-Ireland and they beat you well on the way to it. Congratulations to them, easily the best team in Ireland at the moment.

JacksAreBack (Dublin) - Posts: 5 - 24/09/2012 16:07:42    1271872

In my local yesterday and I'd say 99.9% Were supporting Donegal , but after the first five minutes and the two goals that Mayo conceded about half the bar started to cheer on MAYO I think they thought that it wasn't going to be much of a contest after that and sentiment took over willing the underdog on I feel for Mayo 6 All ireland loses on the bounce ,

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 24/09/2012 16:53:19    1271913

I feel for Mayo 6 All ireland loses on the bounce ,
________

The Jimmy White of the GAA world.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 24/09/2012 16:57:58    1271917

you'd nearly wonder is that curse on mayo true.. for a decent team they do be very unlucky in all ireland finals.

meathalltheway (Meath) - Posts: 789 - 24/09/2012 17:04:06    1271926

I have to laugh at some of the childishness on this forum at the best of times

I see people are saying they are happy Mayo lost because of their diving and cheating antics against Dublin , Others are saying things to discredit Donegals win. I think its all crazy and some of the bitterness around here is unreal

Can we not just get over the fact these two teams where in the final on merit , At the end of the day the best team all summer won the all ireland, Its as simple as that , Wether they be from Ulster or Munster , Leinster or connaught , Yesterday was about 70 minutes of football and in that 70 minutes the better team won and Donegal are champions

So congratulations Donegal on your win. A fantastic team with an excellant manager. Well deserved and I for one am delighted for you all, Mayo ? Hard luck , i know its not what you want to hear but you have waited 61 years for an all ireland , Maybe next year will be the year who knows ? Both sets of supporters where brilliant yesterday and both sets of players did their county and the sport proud too..

Yesterday was brilliant for Donegal and its great for football that we have 5 different winners in the past 5 years. While others may feel the game is not as good as it used to be , I beg to differ, I think the game is in great shape and next year 8 or 9 counties have the potential to go on and win the all ireland.. the competitiveness is as strong as ever with more counties capable of beating one another... Tactics are getting more astute which makes the game more intriguing too .. A very good year all in all ..

JIMMY'S WINNING MATCHES !! WELL DONE DONEGAL

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13655 - 24/09/2012 17:59:51    1271980

24/09/2012 17:04:06
meathalltheway
County: Meath
Posts: 461

1271926
you'd nearly wonder is that curse on mayo true.. for a decent team they do be very unlucky in all ireland finals.

Curse is excuse for not been good enough at least Mayo didn't get hammered yesterday like they did in 04,06 finals.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3728 - 24/09/2012 18:00:53    1271982

Well said Wayno. Congratulations to Donegal and commiserations to Mayo who I hope will win an All-Ireland in the not to distant future.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3049 - 24/09/2012 18:38:19    1272011

Sympathy to Mayo - though i,d be keen to get the view of the Mayo fans on the major tactical issue in the game.

1. Donegal played long ball into Murphy for first half hour against Cork
2. Mayo gave up seven scoreable frees against dublin and nearly a goal from long ball
3. Mayo have the shortest full back line of the four semi finallists
4. Murphy and mcfadden are 6 -2 14 stone big forwards

Everyone i talked to on saturday or before the game expected Murphy to start up front and that Donegal would play long ball - mainly to win frees - anything else being a bonus.

So who in the Mayo backroom decided that having Keane 1 for 1 against one of the most dangerous own ball winners in the country was a good idea ?
Bizzare decision

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 24/09/2012 18:40:29    1272012

The first 11 mins was the platform for Donegal's victory no doubt but for me the 3 early second wide's is where the game turned firmed for Mayo. Had them 3 scores been converted, it would of given Mayo a great boost and who knows . But with only 3 wide's , Donegal regrouped and there was never a doubt after that. Congrats to Donegal for a fine win but also to Mayo because curse or not many other teams would of folded completely after such a start.hope the boys of the "Green and Red stick together and stronger in 2013.

biffo7593 (Offaly) - Posts: 1 - 24/09/2012 19:36:01    1272062

Great post WanyoI. Cheers for that.

I wouldn't give the bitter ones a second thought and certainly wouldn't hate a whole county based on a few idiots. Every village has them, big or small.
the gaa is what unites the whole 32 counties-nothing else does.

Ruanua: not sure why. Murphy is a hard fella to stop any time. Our setup was based on stifling him as I don't think it's possible to shut him out. I think it was for the more the physical aspect in trying to muscle Murphy off the ball as it came in.
It wasn't working and everyone in the stand could see this but Murphy in that form would probably have neutered whoever he was marking. Some goal he scored.
The Donegal fielding of the ball was very impressive throughout the game.
Congrats on the win.

TylerDurden (Mayo) - Posts: 155 - 24/09/2012 19:57:15    1272077

I wouldn't agree that the two best teams were in the final on merit. Donegal were there on merit. Mayo were there, I believe, because they avoided Kerry & Cork in the q-final & the s-final. I also disagree with the usual knee-jerk claptrap thats doled out to runners-up year after year, the line 'ye'll be back next year lads', or worse, 'ye'll win it next year'. I actually don't think that this is a great Mayo side, and I don't 'see an All-Ireland in them', not unless they find 2,3,4 better players than they're fielding currently, or unless some of their existing squad members improve.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4325 - 24/09/2012 20:01:19    1272081

I would feel extremely sorry for them if they didn't go out of their way to clap and cheer every time Dublin minors scored. PLEASE GET OVER 96.

ClassApart (Meath) - Posts: 1200 - 24/09/2012 20:11:42    1272089

It is amazing that for the second successive time, Mayo had practically lost an All-Ireland final before their supporters had time to settle into their seats. What must have gone through their minds when their team conceded two early goals and were fortunate that their goalie's leg got in the way of a third.

I wonder what was James Horan's reasoning for putting Keane full back on Michael Murphy? To compound matters, he was in no hurry to switch him.

I was embarrassed for Mayo and their supporters early in the game because it looked at that stage that they were going to be annihilated. But credit where credit is due, they settled down and got to grips with Donegal, to an extent. However, it always looked as if the best they could hope for was a tight game rather than a victory against a team who defend so systematically and in such numbers. Allied to that they had nobody who could pose a threat in the style of Michael Murphy or Colm McFadden. In that context, Alan Dillon, who has been a great player for them, was a disappointment and this heightened the loss of Andy Moran. Also, a lot of their forwards did not have the physical wherewithal to cope with the vigorous Donegal defenders.

It was an understandable tactic to switch Aiden O'Shea into full forward but why oh why did the corner forwards insist on jumping for the ball with Aiden, leaving the Donegal defence mop up all the breaks. Naivety or lack of fortitude?

There is no denying that Donegal are worthy champions. They beat all the fancied teams, Dublin excepted. They are a transformed team from last year and, who knows, they may even further advance their style next year. It was appropriate that Michael Murphy was their captain. He is a superb footballer and when you have a man like him at number fourteen you have a head start. His goal was a joy to behold, a throw back to simpler times. Hands like glue, swivel and unleash. A goal calculated to inspire and deflate. It is a mystery why Donegal do not go more direct more often with a such a treacherous full forward line rather than expending so much energy with their more laboured style. However, it would be a foolhardy man who would question Jim McGuinness's tactics on the night of their All-Ireland victory.

So, it is congratulations to Donegal as Mayo return home broken hearted once more. How many successive All-Ireland defeats can a county withstand? I would happily accept a Kerry defeat next year if I thought Mayo would finish up champions.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 24/09/2012 20:14:56    1272090

What is it about green and gold Jerseys and mayo? Meath, Kerry twice and now Donegal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/09/2012 20:40:13    1272105

24/09/2012 19:57:15
TylerDurden
County: Mayo
Posts: 123

1272077
Great post WanyoI. Cheers for that.

I wouldn't give the bitter ones a second thought and certainly wouldn't hate a whole county based on a few idiots. Every village has them, big or small.
the gaa is what unites the whole 32 counties-nothing else does.

Ruanua: not sure why. Murphy is a hard fella to stop any time. Our setup was based on stifling him as I don't think it's possible to shut him out. I think it was for the more the physical aspect in trying to muscle Murphy off the ball as it came in.
It wasn't working and everyone in the stand could see this but Murphy in that form would probably have neutered whoever he was marking. Some goal he scored.
The Donegal fielding of the ball was very impressive throughout the game.
Congrats on the win.
---
Tyler

My point is indont think Mayo set up to stiffle him. Cafferky and Higgins marked mcfadden and Mcbrearty and to me it looked like they expected Murphy to play oin the 45
Keane then picked upmMurphy on the 14 almost like it was an afterthought. Once they switched higgins Murphy was less of a threat. If they played higgins on Murphy from. Start or played a sweeper the first 11 minutes things may b een different

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 24/09/2012 20:55:32    1272121

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 2555

1272105
What is it about green and gold Jerseys and mayo? Meath, Kerry twice and now Donegal

Yes, although the last time they won was against a team in green and gold.

class101 (Sligo) - Posts: 58 - 24/09/2012 21:20:38    1272141

Wayno your hoping to be a sports journalist arent you...?

Look out Joe Brolly...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 24/09/2012 21:24:11    1272146

I would happily accept a Kerry defeat next year if I thought Mayo would finish up champions.

Yeah, sure.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 24/09/2012 21:27:17    1272152